from the winter storm to the political storm over the fiscal cliff, president obama is returning to washington this morning to try and work out a deal. with just five days left now, is there enough time? nbc's white house correspondent, peter alexander, good morning to you. >> reporter: good morning to you and most importantly happy birthday to you. the president hopes to bring back sunshine from hawaii, 38 degrees here and 72 in hallelujhonolulu. today, aides on both sides say no new negotiations are scheduled and no evidence of any post christmas compromise. >> reporter: cutting his christmas vacation short, president obama left hawaii overnight for washington trying to orchestrate a deal to avoid the fiscal cliff deadline just in the nick of time. if not, the consequences will be severe. more than a half trillion dollars in automatic tax hikes and spending cuts, not that lawmakers are necessarily feeling the urgency. congress is at least officially in session today but house members, most still at home haven't even been called back to the capitol. aides on both sides including republican le